Vacancy Announcement

 

UNITED STATES ARMY

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY

 

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT NUMBER:  X-BL-04-5806-HW      

 

OPENING DATE:  November 21, 2003

                   

CLOSING DATE:  December 5, 2003

 

POSITION: FIREARMS AND TOOLMARK EXAMINER, GS-0301-12/13  

 

NUMBER OF VACANCIES:  ONE VACANCY

 

Remarks:    Forms requests will not be honored. (086)

                   Applications must be received by the closing date to receive

                   consideration. (069)

                   Travel required 15% of the time.

                   Secret clearance must be obtained and maintained.

                   Must obtain and pass medical examination prior to employment.

                   Visual acuity and correct color perception are required.

                            

SALARY:  $57,097 to $88,269 per year         

 

PROMOTION POTENTIAL:       GS-13

 

DUTY LOCATION: USA Criminal Investigation Laboratory

                             Laboratory Services

                             Firearms/Toolmark Division

                             Fort Gillem, GA

 

APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED FROM:                  All U.S. Citizens

 

TYPE OF APPOINTMENT:                  PERM, FULL TIME          

 

MAJOR DUTIES:   GS:12 :  This is a developmental position.  Duties are essentially the same as Firearms and Toolmark Examiner, GS-0301-13, however they are performed under closer supervision and with more extensive review as the incumbent becomes more experienced. Noncompetitive promotion may be made to the GS-13 level provided the work at the higher grade continues to exist.

GS-13:  Processes physical evidence as an expert in a specialty area of forensic firearms and toolmark examination. Receives, inventories and signs for physical evidence (weighing up to 40 pounds) and maintains integrity of submitted evidence. Reviews laboratory examination requests and confirms the type of examinations needed. Examines evidence and renders accurate expert opinion(s) on the full range of firearms and toolmark problems. Conducts examinations by using specialized equipment. Independently plans, organizes and devises the approach necessary to obtain forensically useful information from the evidence submitted, taking into consideration the requirements established by agency regulation, federal law and the Uniform Code of Military Justice.  As an expert in a specialty area of forensic firearms and toolmark examination, provides technical support as necessary for accomplishment of the laboratory mission.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-11 for the GS-12, and GS-12 for the GS-13) which had equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, abilities and tasks to successfully perform the duties of the position.  The specialized experience is typically in or related to the position to be filled.  The specialized experience must have included duties that gave the applicant a professional knowledge of examinations, using chemical, physical and instrumental techniques, on a wide variety of physical evidence associated with firearms and toolmark cases.  Also must have conducted examinations of firearms, ammunition and ammunition components; microscopic comparisons of bullets, cartridge cases and toolmarks.

 

BASIS OF RATING: You will be rated on your basic qualifications as described by you in your application and the extent and quality of your experience, education, and/or training based on your responses to the Supplemental Qualifications Statement (SQS). All responses you provide in the SQS may be subject to verification against information in your basic application.

 

PAY, BENEFITS AND WORK SCHEDULE: Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer (DD/EFT) is the standard method of payment within DoD for pay of personnel.

 

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: Under Executive Order 11935, only United States citizens and nationals (residents of American Samoa and Swains Island) may compete for civil service jobs.  Agencies are permitted to hire noncitizens only in very limited circumstances where there are no qualified citizens available for the position.  Applicants are required to state their country of citizenship in their application/resume.  Proof of citizenship will be required on appointment to a civil service position.

 

Travel required 15% of the time.

Secret clearance must be obtained and maintained.

Must obtain and pass medical examination prior to employment.

Visual acuity and correct color perception are required.

 

OTHER INFORMATION: Before being hired, you will be required to sign and certify the accuracy of the information in your application if you have not done this using an application form such as the Optional Form (OF) – 612. Failure to submit all required documents and information requested by the closing date of this announcement may result in your not receiving full consideration. Applicant's qualifications will be evaluated solely on the information submitted in their applications. Please do not submit your application package in a notebook or binder with extraneous information.  Applicants should provide sufficient information to enable the Delegated Examining Unit to properly evaluate your application against the qualification requirements.

 

NOTE: Applications mailed in government postage paid envelopes will NOT be accepted.  Use of postage paid official envelopes is a violation of OPM and Postal regulations.  Once submitted, applications become the property of the Department of the Army and will NOT be returned or copied.

 

HOW TO APPLY: All applications must be received on or before the closing date.  It is your responsibility to assure applications are submitted on time to meet these deadlines.

 

APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED BY FAX OR E-MAIL.

 

Applicants must submit the following:

 

OF 612 (Optional Application for Federal Employment), SF 171 (Application for Federal Employment) or Resume.*

 

SF 15, DD 214 and VA/Service documents.  Documents certifying service connected disability must be dated within the last 12 months (if claiming 10-point veteran's preference).  Veterans who retire from a branch of the Armed Forces because of permanent service-connected disability or who transfer to the permanent disability retirement list must submit an official statement or retirement orders indicating that the disability is 10 percent or more.  For information on veteran's preference, please refer to the website: www.opm.gov/veterans/html/vetguide.htm

 

Spouses of active duty military members of the Armed Forces may receive preference in hiring under this announcement if they are among the best- qualified candidates referred and are within reach for selection.  For information on military spouse preference, please refer to website http://www.cpms.osd.mil/fas/staffing/pdf/st006.pdf.

 

DD 214 (if claiming 5 points Veteran’s Preference)

 

College transcript or list of college courses (only if you use education as a basis for qualifying)

 

Supplemental Qualification Statement

 

USAJOBS ONLINE RESUME BUILDER

You may use the USAJOBS online resume builder to create a resume for this position.  Resumes will only be accepted by mail and must include all required information.  The USAJOBS online resume builder queries applicants for all information required on a Federal resume.  For USAJOBS Online Resume Builder: Log on www.usajobs.opm.gov; click on online application; click on Register to create a resume; and follow the instructions.

 

*WHAT YOUR APPLICATION/RESUME MUST CONTAIN:

Announcement number, title and grade of the job for which you are applying

Your Social Security Number (SSN)**

Your Date of Birth (DOB)***

Your full name, mailing address** and telephone number(s)

Country of Citizenship-If you are not a U.S. citizen, indicate your country of citizenship on your application/resume

Proof of Veteran’s preference, reinstatement eligibility, and highest Federal civilian grade held, if applicable

High School - name, city and state, date of diploma or GED

If required -- Colleges and Universities - name, city, state, major(s), type and year of any degree(s) received (include a college transcript or list of college courses).

Work experience (paid and non-paid experience related to the job for which you are applying - include job title, duties and accomplishments, employer's name and address, supervisor's name and phone number, starting and ending dates, hours worked per week, and salary)

Other job related training, skills (languages, computer software/hardware, tools, machinery, typing speed, etc.), certificates, licenses, honor societies, awards, professional membership(s), publications, leadership activities, etc.

 

**PRIVACY ACT STATEMENT: We request your SSN and mailing address under the authority of Executive Order 9397 in order to keep your records accurate and to allow use of automated referral applicant notification systems. If you do not provide your SSN or mailing address, your application will not be processed.

 

***DATE OF BIRTH: Date of Birth is only requested if the position has a minimum age or maximum age requirement.  Age requirements are set by Public Law that will be defined in the announcement.

 

INTERAGENCY CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (ICTAP):

 

Federal employees seeking ICTAP eligibility must submit proof that they meet the requirements 5 CFR 330.704 for ICTAP.  This includes a copy of the agency notice, a copy of their most recent Performance Rating and a copy of their most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location.  Please annotate your application to reflect that you are applying as an ICTAP eligible.

 

**Surplus or displaced Federal Civil Service employees must be rated well qualified in order to be considered under the ICTAP programs.  In order to be rated well qualified for this position, you must receive a rating of 80 or above, excluding veteran's preference, if applicable.

 

Your application must be received by the closing date of this announcement, and you must submit all required documentation.

 

For additional information about this position please contact:

Jean Moore 404-464-2437

 

Submit your application package to:

 

DELEGATED EXAMINING UNIT

SC-CPOC, BLDG 5304

ATTN:  DAPE-CP-SC-B-X

ERN:  X-BL-04-5806-HW

REDSTONE ARSENAL, AL  35898

 

The Federal Government is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

 

Reasonable accommodations will be made for qualified applicants with disabilities, except when doing so would pose an undue hardship on the employing agency.

 

Selection for this position will be made without regard to political, religious, or labor organization affiliation or non-affiliation, marital status, race, color, sex, national origin, non-disqualifying handicapping condition or age.

 

SUPPLEMENTAL QUALIFICATIONS STATEMENT

 

ANNOUNCEMENT NUMBER: X-BL-04-5806-HW

Position Title, Series, Grade:

 

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION MUST BE COMPLETED BY THE APPLICANT.

Are you a United States citizen? _______Yes or _______No

If your answer is no, please give your country of citizenship.

__________________  Your citizenship will be verified prior to appointment to a civil service position.

 

IMPORTANT NOTE: Formatting of tasks contained in this Supplemental Qualifications Statement cannot be altered in any way or for any reason.  Attachment sheets or alterations to this task statement are not authorized and will not be used to rank applications.

 

The responses you provide on the task statement may be verified against the information in your application.  Any attempt to exaggerate/conceal/falsify your experience, education, awards or training can result in removal from employment consideration.

 

Please place the number of the most accurate level that applies to your experience, education and/or training in each task required by this job.

 

DESCRIPTION OF EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION AND/OR TRAINING LEVELS:

 

0 - I have not had education, training, or experience in performing this task.

1 - I have had education or training on this task but have not yet performed it on the job.

2 - I have performed this task on the job. A supervisor or senior employee monitored my work on this task to ensure compliance with proper procedures.

3 - I have performed this task as a regular part of a job.  I have performed it independently and normally without review by a supervisory or senior employee.

4 - I have supervised performance of this task or am normally the person who is consulted by other workers to assist them in doing this task because of my expertise.

 

LEVELS:                                  TASKS:

 

 

_____1.  Processes physical evidence as an expert in forensic firearms and toolmark examination.

 

_____2.  Conducts comprehensive analyses in all types of forensic firearms and toolmark examination problems.

 

_____3.   Uses experience and knowledge of a wide variety of instrumental, microscopic, physical and chemical techniques suitable for analyses.

 

_____4.  Evaluates scientific results which may be conflicting or incomplete,

 

_____5.  Determines scientific results’ validity and determines whether the information is forensically significant.

 

_____6.  Prepares formal written reports suitable for legal presentation which state results, interpretation, and professional opinions/conclusions.

 

_____7.  Testifies to various court systems as an expert witness.

 

_____8.  Presents technical testimony in layman's terms and defends analytical approach and results against rigorous cross examination.

 

_____9.  Plans and carries out research projects in which efforts may result in significant scientific developments and publications.

 

_____10.  Evaluates new techniques, instrumentation and equipment.

 

_____11.   Identifies, justifies and writes procurement specifications for new instruments/equipment, specialized reagents and supplies.

 

_____12.  Accompanies investigative team to act as technical advisor in processing of major crime scenes worldwide.

 

_____13.  Develops and conducts forensic training for investigators, legal counsel, and other agencies on collections and preservation of evidence samples and interpretation of results. 

 

_____14.  Reviews laboratory examination requests and confirms the type of examinations needed.

 

_____15.  Detects and resolves any accountability discrepancies.

 

_____16.  Marks evidence for future identification.

 

_____17.  Modifies established procedures and develop new techniques, approaches, and methods. 

 

_____18.  Participates in quality assurance activities that include peer reviews of examinations.

 

_____19.  Provides technical training for forensic firearms and toolmark students.

 

_____20.  Completes and maintains evidence accountability documents.

 

PLEASE NOTE: AFTER A REVIEW OF YOUR COMPLETE APPLICATION PACKAGE, IF A DETERMINATION IS MADE THAT YOU HAVE RATED YOURSELF HIGHER THAN IS APPARENT IN YOUR DESCRIPTION OF EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION AND/OR TRAINING, A SINGLE BEST LEVEL REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES OF THE POSITION (70, 80, OR 90) WILL BE ASSIGNED.

 

I certify that the information I provide on the task statement is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.  I further certify that the information I provide on this task statement can be verified by my application or other information provided, as of the closing date of this announcement.

 

Applicant’s Signature: __________________________________________________

 

Date: ________________Social Security Number: __________________________

 X-BL-04-5806-HW

 

Point of Contact:

Don Mikko
Phone: 404-469-7049
don.mikko@usacil.army.mil